The Lucy Eperience

Monday, 19 May 2014

I understand that I have not wrote since the 24th of March, but time has elapsed without the motivation to write! In the (nearly) two months that have passed a lot of things seem to have changed. My hair is now a fiery shade of auburn, I have received my acceptance letter to study at university, I have had interviews and training and will be starting a new job soon, and I'm part way through a very tough six week gap from CBT.

I will apologise for such a long break without uttering a word on here, but I have been updating my twitter and facebook for you all to read and offer quotes of inspiration, my motivation has been extremely low and luckily the red falcon project has booted me up the backside to writing again, asking whether I could write a post about my running and how it is helping me cope! (Thank you red falcon project, I owe you a wonderful post for this!)

I shall be starting university on the 14th of September 2014, with a gap year under my belt and some well needed break from education I finally feel ready to start! I'm over the moon to be looking at homes with Rob and thoroughly excited to start my course and job!

With my six week gap from CBT I have been rushing around trying to fill up my time in order to cope, which meant running, cycling and also planning a big party for my boyfriends 21st birthday! Which, trust me, was utterly fantastic! I had managed, with the help of my mother-in-law, to bring up robs aunty who he had not seen for seven years up to Manchester from London and I believe I have made his year. (I should be in the Guinness world records for keeping the biggest secret ever for over a month).

Also yesterday, the 18th of may, I ran the Manchester Bupa 10k for the Trafford carers centre, which is a local charity that offers support and counselling for unpaid carers who are looking after relatives, friends or neighbours! I completed the 6.4 miles at 1:33:45 which is not my best time but ran in the running conditions of blistering heat at around 24 degrees! I am now suffering extremely bad sunburn and sunstroke!

I really struggled yesterday even though my training has been fantastic, I would not have been able to achieve what I did without the amazing Chorlton runners! I was very proud to wear their vest as I ran and was overwhelmed with all the support they gave!

The running and cycling has progressed as I have knocked another 2/2.5 minutes off my average running pace to get sub 12 minute miles across about 4/5 miles! Which also means I have sped up by around 7/7.5 minutes for each mile! (I can see smoke coming off the back of my trainers here!)

I'm really appreciating how I've been feeling, even if it is down to medication, as to me, although I have had bad days, I can really feel the good days, the days where I feel thinner, where I'm smiling and talking, overcoming anxieties, where I feel like a good person. I can feel weights are lifting off my shoulders, and the excitement that the divorce is nearly over is another great relief, me and my mum will be free this year, 2014, the year of change, the year of removing the shackles, the transformation from victim to survivor. The best year so far.

Again, I am sorry for not posting, but I hope reading this has helped you understand and to realise that I'm still here, still recovering and still trying to help every person I can!